Combination drag, grader, and ditcher.



M. H. MGCAULOU. COMBINATION DRAG, GRADBR, AND DITCHBR. APPLICATION FILED JULY12,1913.

atented Feb. 2, 1915.

Meme@ Witnesses x Inventor Attorneys marmi) STATES .PATENT oFFIoE.

MARTIN H. MCCAULOU, OF BUTLERVILLE, INDIANA..

COMBINATION DRAG, GRADER, .AND DITCHER. l

Application led July 12, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAR'riN H. MCCAU- LOU, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butlerville, in the county of Jennings and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Combination Drag, Grader, and Ditcher, of which the following is a speci# fication.

The present invention appertains generally to road working implements,- and relates more particularly to certain improvements over the devicel disclosed in Patent No. 961,007, issued June 7, 1910.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a device of the nature indicated possessing superior advantages, over similar devices now existing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination drag and grader, which may also be readily converted into a ditcher. Y

With the foregoing general objects outlined, and with other objects in view, which will be apparent as the nature lof the invention is better understood, the present invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can' be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device, set to serve in the capacity of a road grader. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device adjusted to form a ditcher. Fig. 3 is a fragmental enlarged detail of the hand lever mechanism. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of the scraper blade.

. In carrying out the invention, reference being had in detail to the drawings, there is provided a front sheet metal scraper blade 1, and a rear sheet metal drag blade 2, which are preferably constructed of sheet steel.

The lower edge of the scraper blade 1 is deflected or bent forwardly slightly to provide a cutting edge.3.

rlhe blades 1 and 2 are connected by a plurality of links, or connecting bars 4, 4 and 4, the forward ends of the links being loosely connected to eye-bolts 5 engaged to the scraper blade 1 adjoining its upper edge,

Specification of Letters Patent.

ythe two blades together.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

serial No. 778,814.

and the rear ends of the links 4 being formed into eyes or loops 6 which fit within a channel member 7 secured to the forward face of the drag blade 2 adjoining its upper edge. Bolts 8, 8 and 8 are engaged through the .flanges of the channel member 7 for pivoting the eyes 6 of the respective links within the channel member, so as to loosely connect It is to be observed that the links 4 and 4 are disposed adjoining the ends of the blades, while the link 4 is disposed intermediate the ends of the blades.

An angle iron member 9 has one of its Hanges bolted to the rear face of the drag blade 2 adjoining its lower edge, the other flange, or the angle iron member 9 as a whole, serving as a shoe for the drag blade 2. A similar angle iron member is carried by the rear face of the scraper blade 1 adjoining its lower or cutting edge 3, the upright flange of the member 10 being provided with vertical slots 11 through which bolts 12 are engaged, the bolts 12 being rigid with the scraper blade 1. The bolts 12 in being tightened maintain the member or shoe 10 in any adjusted position, the lower or horizontal flange of the shoe 10 being adapted to lie in the plane of the cutting edge 3. It will be manifest that as the edge 3 wears away, the shoe 10 may be adjusted upwardly, relative to the scraper blade 1, in order that the shoe will properly support the scraper blade after prolonged use.

, A suitable draft chain or member 13 is terminally attached to the front face of the scraper blade 1 in any suitable manner, for facilitating the attachment of draft animals to the device, in order that the device may be drawn over the soil or road bed.

Suitable hooks or equivalent members 14, 14 and 14 are attached to the rear face of the scraper blade 1 adjoining the upper edge, while a stay chain 15 is connected at one end tothe upper fiange of the channel member 7 adjoining one end, the free end of the stay chain 15 being engageable with a take up link 16 connected to the upper flange of the channel member 7 adjoining its other end. The intermediate portion of the stay chain 15 is engageable with the intermediate hook 14, in order that the two blades may be held in any adjusted position which they may assume with respect to each other. It is evident that the links permit the two blades to shift laterally with respect to each other, so

that the respective links of the stay chain 15 may be properly engaged to the hook 14, and in order that the free portion of the chain 15 may be taken up by .the link 16, to properly maintain the blades in any adjusted position.

To the rear face of the scraper blade 1 is clamped a sleeve or socket 17 by means of a pair of U-shaped bolts 18 engaging through the blade 1, the hand lever 19 having its lower end vswiveled or disposed loosely Within the sleeve or socket 17. The hand lever 19 is provided With a slot 20 through which a brace 21 passes, the said brace being connected loosely to the upper flange of the channel member 7 and having an arcuate curved portion 22 at its free end passing through the said slot. The arcuate or free portion'22 of the brace 21 is provided With a series of apertures 23 for the engagement of a locking pin, as will be presently described.

A bracket or arm 24 is secured to the hand lever 19 adjoining the slot 20 and a locking pin 25 is slidable through the free portion of the bracket 24 and through the lever 19, so as to pass transversely throughy the slot 20. A cotter pin is engaged through the locking pin or bolt 25 adjoining the lever 19, and a coiled Wire spring 27 is disposed on the pin or bolt 25, and iscompressibly held betvveen the bracket 24 and the pin 26, so as to project the respective end of the bolt 25 through the slot 20 `of the lever. `A supplemental lever 28 is fulcrurned tothe hand lever 19 and has its lower end engaging the pin 26' carried by the bolt, in order that ii'hen the upper end of the lever 20 is forced toward the upper or free end of the hand lever 19, the end of the bolt 25 will be retracted from the slot 20. Ordinarily, when the lever 28 is free,.the bolt 25 is adapted to snap through one of the apertures 23 of the brace 21, in order to maintain the scraper blade 1 in its adjusted position.

ln employing the device as a grader, the scraper blade 1 is adjusted to a vertical or uprightA position, as seen in Fig. 1, in order that the cutting edge '3 may loosen the soil, .it'being noted that the respective blades 1l and 2 are carried by the shoes 10 and 9, in order to'prevent the blades from dropping into soft places in the soil, which would be liable Vto dig depressions or holes in the soil. The shoes 10 and 9 also assist'in pulverizing and leveling the soil, as Will be apparent.

. lVhen the device is to be used in the capacity of a drag, the scrape-r blade 1 is tilted rearwardly, by means of the hand lever 19, so that the rear edge of the shoe 1() rides .upon the soil, and raises the scraper blade' above thesoil, Wherebythe. shoes alone will'engage thesoil topulverize and level the surface thereof.

ployed as a ditcher or plow.

`with respect to each other by means of the stay chain 15, as will be clearly 'obvious rlfhis adjustment of the blades with respect to each other permits the device to be shifted from one side of the road to the other with out the necessity of unhitching the draft animals, and without greatly interfering Awith the operation of the device.

Another advantage inherent 1n the present device, is the fact that the respective ends ofthe shoe 10 may be adjusted separately with respect to the cutting edge 3 of the scraper blade 1, in order that one end of the blade 1 may be let` into the soil farther than the other end, this being desirable when one end of the blade 1 is to be. employed for cutting a ditch along the side of the road, While the other end ofthe scraper blade rides upon the central portion or ridge of the road. In this manner,'the proper slope may be given the sides of the road. It may also be stated that the present device may be employed with equal propr'iety and success on either dirt or gravel roads, attention also being directed to the fact that the present device is constructed entirely of steel, and is also simple, substantial, durable and inexpensive in construction, consistent ivith the highest degree of eiiciency, convenience and serviceability.

One of the cardinal or salient features of vthe present invention, resides in the fact that the same may not only be employed as a drag or grader but may also be converted into a ditcher. This is readily accomplished by releasing the rear ends of the links 4 and 4 from the channel member 7, in order that the rear end of the end link 4 may be attached to the inter mediate bolt S carried by the channel member 7.- This permits the respective ends of the blades 1 and 2 to be swung together as seen in Fig. 2, so thata bolt or securing member 29 maybe passed throughopenings or apertures 30 provided in the blades adjoining the respective ends. The rear shoe 9 is then removed from the drag blade 2, and the device is in condition to be em.-

The blades land 2 are held at an acute angle with respect to each other, by means of the links 4 and 4 and the securing member 29, the

device being readily drawn forward, that is, 'the angle being drawn forward, by any suitable -means, such as the draft member '13.

' :'Ehe device may-be adjusted from aditclier Maceo@ to the other, whereby when the said attach. ing means is removed, the blades may be adjusted to parallelism.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing15 as my own, I have hereto axed by signature 1n the presence of two Witnesses.

MARTIN H. MCCAULOU.

Witnesses: l

EUGENE L. CLARKSON, J. RUSSELL DOLE. 

